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amend the definition of law enforcement officer to include tribal law enforcement officers.

This bill expands the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" in South Dakota state law to include tribal law enforcement officers. This change means tribal officers will now be covered under state criminal code provisions that apply to law enforcement, likely affecting areas such as use of force rules, officer liability protections, and other law enforcement-related statutes.

revise provisions related to Division of Criminal Investigation cooperation with Indian tribes.

This bill expands the types of tribal positions for which the Division of Criminal Investigation can provide national criminal history background checks when Indian tribes request them, adding new categories like tribal conservation officers, gaming licensees, and foster parents or prospective adoptive parents. The bill also clarifies that tribes (or applicants themselves, if the tribe requires it) must pay all fees associated with these background checks conducted by state and federal agencies.

establish the South Dakota-tribal consultation commission.

South Dakota creates a new Tribal Consultation Commission to improve communication and cooperation between the state government and the nine federally recognized tribes in South Dakota. The commission will include representatives from each tribe, state officials, and legislative members, and will meet quarterly to discuss state initiatives and their potential effects on tribal communities.

establish principles for a state agency to consider when formulating or implementing a program that has the potential of affecting tribal members on a reservation.

This bill requires South Dakota state agencies to follow five guiding principles when developing or running programs that could affect Native Americans living on reservations, including cooperating with tribal governments, respecting tribes as sovereign nations, communicating early and regularly with tribal officials, and being accountable for addressing tribal concerns. The law establishes a state policy of consulting with tribal governments but clarifies that it doesn't create any legal rights that people can enforce in court.

increase communication between agencies of this state and tribal governments.

South Dakota state agencies must now provide annual training to their employees on tribal legal status, tribal members' rights, and tribal concerns—delivered by instructors chosen by each Indian tribe. Additionally, the Governor and heads of state agencies must meet at least once yearly with tribal officials to discuss how state rules and policies affect tribes, and state agencies must report annually to the Governor on their tribal-related activities and any policy changes made as a result of these discussions.

create a taskforce to study the creation of Indian medicaid managed care entities in the state.

South Dakota is creating a new taskforce to study whether Indian tribes in the state should establish their own managed care organizations to deliver Medicaid services to tribal members. The taskforce will include representatives from federally recognized tribes, state agencies, the legislature, healthcare providers, and the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, and will be supported by the Department of Social Services.

provide free admission to state parks and recreation areas for residents enrolled as members of Indian tribes.

South Dakota residents who are enrolled members of Indian tribes would receive free admission to all state parks and recreation areas, plus a 50 percent discount on camping and electrical service fees. The Department of Game, Fish and Parks would issue a lifetime park entrance license to qualifying individuals and develop rules for how people can apply and prove their tribal enrollment status.

modify provisions for a tax collection agreement with an Indian tribe.

South Dakota can now enter into tax collection agreements with Indian tribes to collect a broader range of taxes, including new categories like the gross receipts tax on visitor-related businesses and the excise tax on farm machinery. The state can retain an agreed-upon percentage of collected revenue as an administrative fee for handling the collections. This expands the types of taxes previously available under these agreements.

urging the United States Department of Homeland Security to establish a tribal law enforcement training academy in South Dakota.

This concurrent resolution doesn't change state law—instead, it's a formal request from South Dakota's legislature asking the federal Department of Homeland Security to establish a tribal law enforcement training academy in the state. The resolution emphasizes that South Dakota's location and its nine tribal nations make it an ideal location for such an academy to train law enforcement officers serving Native American communities across the country.

require that the Department of Revenue provide an annual report to Indian tribes regarding certain tax collections.

South Dakota's Department of Revenue must now send annual reports to Indian tribes showing how much sales tax was collected from their territories, with separate counts for remote sellers (like online retailers) and in-person sellers. The department must also estimate tax collected from tribal members in nine specific counties and provide back reports for the years 2020-2025 by December 1, 2026.

update provisions related to the permit application process for proposed energy and transmission facilities.

SB 25 updates the rules for companies applying to build energy facilities and transmission lines in South Dakota by requiring them to notify nearby property owners earlier in the process and to post public notices within 30 days of filing their applications. The bill also clarifies that when the Public Utilities Commission reviews these applications, it must establish a local review committee that includes tribal council chairs, school board presidents, county commissioners, mayors, and a utility representative to give communities a voice in the permitting process.

recognizing the historical significance of the buffalo and celebrating their return to tribal lands in this state.

This is a legislative commemoration that honors the historical significance of buffalo and recognizes their importance to tribal nations in South Dakota, particularly the Oceti Sakowin. The resolution acknowledges the near-extinction of buffalo in the 1800s as a tragedy for Native communities and celebrates ongoing efforts to restore buffalo to tribal lands as a way to revitalize cultural traditions, strengthen food sovereignty, and support ecological restoration. While the bill makes technical amendments to various sections of state law, it is primarily a symbolic recognition rather than a substantive change to how the state governs or operates.

establish a task force for the purpose of studying aquatic invasive species infestations, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

South Dakota will create a new Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force made up of legislators, government officials, and representatives from environmental groups, water industries, tribes, and recreation businesses to study the ecological and economic damage caused by invasive aquatic species and recommend policy solutions to the Legislature. The bill provides funding for this task force and declares the issue an emergency, allowing for expedited action on the problem.

restrict ownership of real property interests by certain prohibited entities and to provide for enforcement.

This bill prohibits certain foreign entities (as defined in existing South Dakota law) from owning or controlling land or property interests in South Dakota while military installations exist in the state. Entities that already own such property must sell it within two to three years depending on how they acquired it. The bill creates a new enforcement mechanism to prevent foreign entities from directly or indirectly holding stakes in South Dakota real estate through corporate ownership or other indirect means.

establish provisions relating to the use of military protective orders upon arrest and as evidence in an action for a protection order.

When law enforcement arrests someone associated with the military, they must now check if a military protective order exists against that person in the federal database and notify the issuing military authority if a violation occurred. Additionally, military protective orders can now be used as evidence in South Dakota civil protection order cases to show a pattern of harmful behavior by the respondent.

prohibit the use of property and personnel in the enforcement of certain federal laws pertaining to firearms.

Starting July 1, 2026, South Dakota prohibits state and local government property and employees from being used to enforce certain new federal gun laws that are stricter than South Dakota's laws—specifically those creating gun registries, requiring gun owner licenses, mandating background checks for private sales, or confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens. State and local law enforcement cannot collect or share information to help federal authorities enforce these specific federal gun measures. This creates a new state law that blocks cooperation between South Dakota officials and federal gun enforcement efforts in these defined areas.

require the approval of the county for the creation of a tax increment financing district by a municipality.

Municipalities must now get approval from their county's board of commissioners before creating a tax increment financing district. This new requirement applies whether the district is entirely within the county or only partially located there. The change gives counties a say in local development projects that were previously decided by cities alone.

revise the limitations on a municipality's power to take actions for the promotion of health or the suppression of disease.

This bill limits the power of South Dakota cities and towns to take health or disease-prevention measures by adding restrictions that prohibit such measures from interfering with religious exercise, free speech, assembly rights, activities in private homes or businesses, or gun rights. The change narrows what municipalities can do during public health emergencies by explicitly protecting these constitutional freedoms, meaning cities cannot use health ordinances to restrict these activities even to fight disease outbreaks.

update certain citations to federal regulations regarding pipeline safety inspections.

HB 1027 updates South Dakota's pipeline safety law to reference the current version of federal pipeline safety regulations as they exist on January 1, 2026. The bill ensures that state pipeline inspection requirements stay aligned with the latest federal standards, so South Dakota's regulations don't become outdated as federal rules change.

honoring Custer State Park cabin owners and their property rights.

This concurrent resolution honors the 37 private cabin owners in Custer State Park and endorses their property rights, while encouraging the state to address their concerns about lease renewals and protection of their interests. The resolution does not change state law but expresses the Legislature's support for finding solutions to protect these cabin owners' future in the park as their leases expire.

revise the compliance requirements for limitations on foreign ownership of agricultural land.

This bill clarifies South Dakota's rules on foreign ownership of agricultural land by specifying that foreigners can own up to 160 acres (with some exceptions for land held as collateral for debt) but face no restrictions on leasing land or holding easements. The bill also details what happens when these rules are broken—land owned illegally is forfeited to the state, illegal leases are terminated, and minority owners who violate the rules lose their ownership share plus face additional civil penalties.

modify provisions related to the South Dakota Veterans Council.

SB132 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to consult with the South Dakota Veterans Council at least every two years about veterans' issues and allows the council to recommend changes to budgets, legislation, policies, and programs. The bill specifies that the council must include representatives from seven veterans organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and others serving veterans in South Dakota.